Македонски центар за меѓународна соработка - МЦМС

Authors: Sašo Klekovski, Aleksandar Kržalovski, Sunčica Sazdovska, Gonce Jakovleska, Miodrag Kolić and Daniela Stojanova
Date: 2009
ISBN: 978-9989-102-84-4
PDF:   social-responsibility-of-citizens.pdf

The report “Social Responsibility of Citizens” comes out of the need to examine the responsibility of citizens in a broader sense.

The question on the sense of belonging primarily to the state or another (ethnic) group is an indicator of the development of the social and political culture. Majority of citizens (61.1%) primarily feel as Macedonian citizens. Majority of citizens (51.9%) still find the state as most responsible for meeting the social needs. The high expectations from the state, lower expectations from the citizens themselves (6.9%) and almost no expectations from the business sector (1.6%) is in favor of the etatistic culture, which is a remainder of the centralized state socialism, i.e. low public support for Macedonia’s organization as liberal – democratic constitutional system. The trust in the solidarity of citizens has increased from 26.4% in 2004, through 39.3% in 2007 to 49.3% in 2009.

Majority of citizens (64.3%) believe that the new development, employment and empowerment of citizens may resolve the problems.

There is an increased gap between the statements on the civic responsibility and the reality, except in the area of public spirit. In average, the parameters for civic responsibility have increased for about 15% (from 51.1% to 66.2%), while the specific indicators on the same issues for about 10% (from 37.8% to 48.1%). Only one in five citizens feels responsible for environmental protection. On the other hand, large majority of citizens support the introduction of the environmental standards and measures.

The citizens mainly associate with the members of their closer/wider family and friends. One quarter of the citizens fail to make friends with their colleagues after the working hours, while more than a half does not attend any organized form of association in the community (sport clubs, etc.). Half of the citizens visit the religious temples several times a year.

In 2009, there is an increased participation of citizens in non-partisan political activities (protests, rallies, petitions, boycotts, etc.). The potential for increased participation of citizens is relatively high (around 30%), which means they would participate, although they have not done this so far.

The interest for voluntary activity in the community is small and there is no continuity in the voluntary activities. The citizens do not have habits and awareness to do something more (outside the family and the personal interest) for the community and the fellow citizens. Again, men are more likely than women to participate in the community activities.

The involvement of the citizens in the civil society organizations is small (24% are members) and there is no significant difference in comparison with the previous surveys. The membership in the other types of associations in the civil society (churches and faith-based communities as well as trade unions) is similar, while the membership in the political parties is rather high (41.6%).

The number of people giving charity has increased, from 64.6% last year to 70.9% this year.

The main motive for charity giving is the growing solidarity, while the first priority in charity giving is the social care or humanitarian purposes. This year the municipal and national level of charity giving is higher on the priority list. The citizens usually give money, in amount of MKD 100 to 500. They prefer to give directly and in hand.

The main reason for avoiding the mediators is the desire to see to whom the assistance is given (39.5%) and to avoid abuse (27.6%). Most of the citizens (32.5%) learn about the voluntary actions directly from the beneficiaries, while the electronic media come on the second place (27.1%). The perception on the purposeful use of donated money is still divided. Total of 55.7% of the respondents believe that the donations are used purposefully.